Most-wanted Gangster ‘Lara’ Nabbed After Six-year Chase Across India

JAIPUR:
In a major breakthrough, the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of Rajasthan Police has arrested dreaded gangster Rajveer Gurjar alias Lara, who had been absconding for over five years in connection with the high-profile Behror police station jailbreak case.

The 32-year-old criminal from Khairoli village, Haryana, was apprehended in Rewari. He carried a bounty of Rs one lakh on his head and was the mastermind behind the audacious September 2019 attack that freed notorious gangster Vikram Gurjar alias Papla from police custody.

Over 30 armed men led by Lara had stormed the Behror police station with AK-47s and sophisticated weapons, helping Papla escape with cash worth Rs 31.90 lac. While Papla was re-arrested 17 months later from Kolhapur along with his girlfriend Jiya, Lara remained on the run, evading arrest through calculated moves.

According to ADGP Dinesh M N, a special AGTF team was constituted under DIG Yogesh Yadav, ASP Siddhant Sharma, and DSP Phoolchand Taylor. Codenamed ‘Operation Lara’, the mission traced the elusive gangster who had lived under aliases across 18-20 states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

Police revealed that Lara had cut all ties with the outside world, shunning phones, social media, and familiar networks to avoid detection. His appearance and locations changed constantly.

Based on information provided post-arrest, the AGTF recovered an AK-56 rifle with a double magazine and seven live cartridges. Constable Sudhir Kumar of the Bhiwadi unit played a key role in the mission and the weapons recovery.

Lara is a repeat offender with multiple serious charges, including murder and assault, to his name.